Date: 09 December, 2016Bapak Waleed and the members of the International Silat Federation of Indonesia & America have been teaching and sharing traditional Minangkabau culture & the arts of Silat Tuo in Indonesia, America, and around the world. Please see the links below to some of the latest actiivites.

News from Indonesia09 Dec, 2016

Upcoming: Indonesia will soon celebrate its National Day of IndependenceHow is the Indonesian Independence Day celebrated?
In Indonesia, Hari Merdeka or Independence Day is a day filled with festivities and celebrations. The preparations for Hari Merdeka begin well in advance. This tim of the year all of Indonesia seems to be draped in red and white, the colors of its flag.

In the run up to the celebrations, malls and the fences around the presidential building is adorned with red and white buntings. The city of Jakarta wears an air of festivity and the area between Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman is done up with unique decorations that reflect the spirit of independence. Neighborhood associations arrange kerja bakti or community service which includes cleaning the residential areas. The residents are also requested host flags for a set duration of time. Finally, on the eve of Independence Day, the President delivers addresses the nation.

These preparations culminate into the grand celebrations of the Independence Day that usually begins with flag hoisting ceremony in the presidential place. High school students chosen from across the country for their marching skills, put up a colorful show while the Indonesianflag hoisted. This is followed by parades and fun-filled activities for the public. These include as Krupuk (shrimp chips) eating, bike decorating, and cooking contests. One of the popular games played on this day is Panjat Pinang in which participants climb the greased trunk Areca palm tree.

What significance does the Independence Day hold in Indonesian history?
The arrival of Dutch in Indonesia can be traced back to the establishment of Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602. In 1800, after the bankruptcy of VOC, Netherlands established Dutch East Indies - the colony that became present day Indonesia after the World War II. Indonesia remained under Dutch control until World War II, when the Japanese invaded it and overran the Dutch forces. The Japanese ruled this archipelago from March 1942 until the end of war in 1945. After the surrender of the Japanese, Indonesian nationalist leader, Sukarno, declared independence on August 17, 1945. Sukarno became the first president of Indonesia.

Welcome!Selamat Datang!

Thank you for visiting the website of Bapak Waleed and the International Silat Federation of Indonesia and America (ISF). We are dedicated to upholding the principles and systems of traditional Silat as embodied by Silat Tuo, Silat Minangkabau, and Silat Tradisional and as practiced in the birthplace of Silat, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This lineage is great, tracing its roots back nearly 1,500 years. The Minangkabau people of West Sumatra have preserved the heritage and the Pusako throughout the generations up until today.

This site is intended to be informative, but in reality, Silat is something to be experienced. We invite those sincere seekers to contact Bapak Waleed directly, or through the ISFA email below.

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Thank you! Teruma Kasih!